Thursday, October 23, 2008

It's no secret that I'm a huge geek when it comes to reading sci-fi. Yet, up until now, I've never listened to any of the books on audio. So METAtropolis comes as the perfect junction, then. It's got cool, exclusive novellas written by some of the best up and coming SF names in the field: Tobias Buckell, Jay Lake, Elizabeth Bear, Karl Schroeder, and John Scalzi. It was edited by Scalzi himself, and it makes perfect sense that he would tap the shoulders of his own personal friends in the biz to help put this project together. Lucky for us, it just so happens that these people are excellent writers to begin with!

But that's not all this audio anthology has going for it. If you are into sci-fi at all, then these writers are likely already recognizable to you. But if you're a big fan of the tv show Battlestar Gallactica, and of audio books in general, then you have even more reason to scream like a little girl at her best friend's slumber party. For three actors from the show lend their voices to the dramatic presentation of some of these tales: Michael Hogan (Colonel Tigh), Alessandro Juliani (Lt. Felix Gaeta), and my personal favorite (yum!) -- Kandyse McClure (Lt. Anastasia Dualla). These three are awesome at their jobs, giving me quite the pleasant surprise. Since this is my first audio book, I was highly impressed by the quality of their narration. Just goes to show that a good actor can utilize his/her skills to full effect regardless of the medium.

Equally impressive are the recordings from the actual professional audio book narrators well-known in the industry. Scott Brick and Stephan Rudnicki go above and beyond the call of duty here. Because of them, I may have to check out some of their more notable audio book works, like Dune and Ender's Game.

But to me, Michael Hogan stole the show. His versatile reading of Jay Lake's novella to start off the anthology was simply too amazing for words. It sent goosebumps down my arms hearing his distinctive voice switch between male and female characters, as well as gender-neutral narrative quick-speak, with fluid ease. What a true professional!

So, if you're into seriously good sci-fi with a tinge of the apocalyptic and the gritty human side of societal change, then you might do yourself good to check this out. The entire "book" runs slightly over 9 hours long, making it an excellent companion to take along with you on long drives. METAtropolis is available through Audible.com and, I think, Apple's iTunes store. The price is comparable to that of a new hardcover, but for me it was well worth the money. If it weren't illegal to do so, I'd burn this puppy to CDs and pass it around to all my friends. Foregoing this option, though, I'll settle for just spreading the word around to ya'll instead!

If you're not sure about paying the full price, Audible gives you the option to download and listen to the first of the novellas -- Jay Lake's "In the Forests of the Night" -- absolutely free. As this just happens to be the story Michael Hogan narrates, I highly recommend this course of action for those unsure of making the full commitment.

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About Me

I'm a reader, gamer, and writer of all things speculative. I was born and raised in the South Bronx, educated at a private college in northern Vermont, and work for a well-known legal and financial publisher in lower Manhattan. Currently I'm writing sci-fi short fiction on the side, with a paltry few paid publications under my belt. The idea for a far-future space opera novel is being tossed about in the back of my head as well. I'm excited by the possibilities!

My Gaming Stats

Now Playing:

2/26/14 UPDATE: Jeez Louise! It only took me 5 months, but this game is finally completed! Wow, and what an experience! A huge improvement over GTA IV, for sure. Unlike with that game, I actually had a lot of fun this time around. Fun that never really ever quit. Most GTA games get bogged down somewhere in the middle, mostly due to the repetitive nature of the missions. But I can say the formula has been damn near perfected in this go-round. I've said it before, but what ultimately ended up saving this game from mundane boredom is the 3-character split dynamic. That moreso than any other advance really sets GTA V apart. On a lesser note, the size and diversity of the map also contributed greatly to making this a fun romp. In GTA IV's defense, that was only one city gamers got to play in. If GTA V had been restricted to only Los Santos, it would have bombed greatly. Its saving grace, just as with San Andreas back on the PS2, is being able to venture outside the city and into the mountains and countryside. This is one beautiful, enjoyable game. A true masterpiece!

Now Playing:

9/15/13 UPDATE: *Sigh* It's been a long time since I've played a game that is as fun, sad, beautiful, heart-wrenching, uplifting, scary, and memorable as this one. I beat it today and it now instantly shoots up to the top of my list of favorite games not just of this generation, but of all time! The story is freaking phenomenal! I went through such a vast array of emotions playing through these chapters that I really do have to wonder about the argument vis-a-vis Games vs Art. This, to me, was art. Like a film. However, it's also a game. A great game, in fact. I like that it doesn't follow the traditional template of zombie-type post-apocalyptic games. More often than not you're fighting human enemies than infected mutants, and I really dig that balance. Naughty Dog created a masterpiece that will resonate with me for many years to come. I'm already starting it up from the beginning for a second playthrough now that I've become quite the badass with the controls.